Phoenix vs. San Antonio headlines ABC Doubleheader on Christmas Day

PHOENIX – Coming off their fourth consecutive 50-win campaign, the Phoenix Suns will tip off the club’s 41^st NBA season in grand style with a pair of nationally televised games against the San Antonio Spurs and New Orleans Hornets. For the first time since 1996, the Suns and US Airways Center will host the bright lights of ABC’s Christmas Day coverage in a marquee rematch of opening night with the Spurs. Phoenix plays on Christmas Day in back-to-back years for the first time since the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons.

The Suns open the 2008-09 campaign on the road against the San Antonio Spurs on ESPN on Wednesday, Oct. 29. Phoenix returns to the Valley to take on Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets the following night at U.S. Airways Center in the club’s home opener on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. on TNT. The Suns then conclude the season’s opening week by hosting Arizona’s own Jerryd Bayless and the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.

The Suns will be showcased on national television a total of 25 times when they appear five times on ABC, 10 on TNT and 10 on ESPN. In addition, ESPN Radio will carry five games. The ABC slate is highlighted by the Christmas Day game, as well as afternoon tilts with the defending NBA Champion Boston Celtics at US Airways Center on Feb. 22, and Kobe Bryant and the L.A. Lakers on March 1. The Lakers make the first of two visits to the Valley on Nov. 20 on TNT.

Other games of interest include the return of former Sun Shawn Marion to the Valley when Phoenix takes on Shaquille O’Neal’s former team, the Miami Heat, on Nov. 28 on ESPN. The Dallas Mavericks make two appearances at US Airways Center on Jan. 9 on ESPN and March 10. First-year head coach Vinny Del Negro brings his Chicago Bulls and 2008 No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose for their only visit on Jan. 31.

Phoenix plays 23 of its 41 home games on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, including eight on Friday and seven on Saturday. The Suns will play 18 back-to-back sets this season, one more than in 2007-08.

Al McCoy begins his 37^th season calling action on flagship station KTAR 620 AM. FSN Arizona will telecast regular season home games for its sixth consecutive season and My45 will continue to broadcast away games. This season the Suns will once again televise the entire season in High Definition (HD).

Most home games start at 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with a 6 p.m. tip-time for Sunday home starts (exceptions are nationally-televised games).

A complete 2008-09 Phoenix Suns schedule is attached and can also be found on Suns.com. A full broadcast schedule will be released at a later date.

– Suns.com –

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